Log-raft gear.



B. S. SPAULDING.

LOG RAFT GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30. 1906.

WITNESSES.- f

'PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907.

A TTORNE 1 5 [Nl ENTO NITED; STATES PATENT orrron.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22, 1907.

- Application filed uly 30. 1906. Serial No. 328,459-

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, B NJAMIN SHEPARD SPAULDING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Arcata, in the county of Humboldt and State of California, have invented a new and useful Log-Raft Gear, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to timber rafts, and more particularly to devices of this character technically. known as log-rafts.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby a large number of logs may be bound together in substantially cylindrical form and held againstlateral or longitudinal displacement.

A still further object is to provide novel means for facilitating the assemblage of the logs in the formation of the raft.

Another object is to provide towing-gear whereby the raft may be readily connected to a tug and will move freely within the water without danger of injuring the towing cable or chain.

A still further object is to provide towinggear which serves to bind the logs -together in prpportion to the resistance exerted by the ra t.

With. the above and other objects in view the invention consists of a raft made up of logs arranged in substantially cylindrical form, the longest log being placed in the center and the shorter ones being disposed therearound. Cables are bound around the logs and are suitably fastened to longitudinally-extending cables, which are secured to heads arranged around the end portions of the central log. The ends of this log bear upon plates to which cables are secured, said cables being connected in such a manner that when the raft is towed the heads will be drawn toward each other, so that the logs will be firmly secured. against displacement. A connecting-bolt is swiveled in each of the plates, and either of them is adapted to be engaged by the towing chain or cable. v

The invention also consists of certain other novel features of construction and co1nbinations of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of the invention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus used in the formation of the raft, the ends of the logs therein being shown by dotted lines. through the raft and showing the apparatus Fig. 2 is a sectionemployed in assembling the logs of the raft. Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section through one end of the raft, the adjoining logs being shown by dotted lines and Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the manner of clamping cables together at their points of intersection.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 and 2 are rings constituting heads and to which are secured the ends of longitudinal cables 3. These cables are disposed on the outer faces of the lo s 4 constituting the raft, and the entire rat is bound together by means of cables 5, secured therearound. The cables 3 and 5 are fastened together at their points of intersection by clamps 6 of any preferred form and preferably such as shown in Fig. 4, said clamp con sisting of a staple-like portion having threaded ends, on which is loosely mounted a clamping-plate 7, adapted to be held in place by nuts 8. A bow-plate 9 is arranged adjacent the head 2, and a stern-plate 10 is arranged adjacent the head 1. An eyebolt 11 is swiveled in each of these plates, and a towing chain or cable 12 is adapted to be connected to either or both of them.

Towing-cables are connected to the plate 9 and are slidabl y mounted within the head and under the cables 5. These towing-cables have been designated by the numeral 13 and extend over pulleys 14-, which are fastened to one of the cables 5 near the stern end of the raft and are then directed forward, the ends of the cables 13 being fastened to a cable 5. Another set of cables 15 is secured to the stern-plate 10 and is slidably mounted in the head 1. These cables extend under the cables 5 and are fastened to one of said cables close to the pulleys 1.4, as shown at 16.

In forming the raft a series of curved ribs 17 is placed at the lower end of ways 18, and curved supports 19 are disposed ad'acent the ribs 17 and held by braces 20, so t at a substantially semicylindrical trough is produced. The logs from which the raft is to be formed are then rolled along the ways 18 and into the trough, the short logs being arranged to form the outer layer and the longest log being positioned directly in the center of the collection. The heads 1 and 2 are then slipped over the ends of the central log until brought against the ends of the logs immediately surrounding it. The logs are then bound together by placing cables 3 and 5 therearound and fastening them at their points of intersection. Cables 3 are of course tightened longitudinally. The bow and stern plates are then placed upon the ends of the middle log and the cables 13 and 15 tightened. This completes the construction of the raft, and by knocking away the braces 20 said raft will be free to roll into the water. The towing chain or cable 12 is then fastened to the bow-plate 9, and when the raft is pulled forward cables 13 will pull the end portions of the cables 3 and 5 toward each other, thereby tightening the logs in proportion to the resistance offered thereby. A number of these rafts may be drawn from a single tow-chain 12 by connecting the bow-plate of one raft with the sternplate of the next raft in front thereof.

It will be seen that a raft constructed in the manner described is held firmly together at all times, and it becomes impossible for the logs to become displaced, no matter what may be the condition of the water.

The preferred form of the invention has been set forth in the foregoing description; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is 1. The herein-described raft-gear comprising binding-cables, ring-like heads, longitudina'l cables connecting the heads and secured to the binding-cables, a bow-plate, means for connecting a towing device thereto, and means operated by the movement of said plate for drawing the heads toward each other.

2. The herein-described raft-gear consisting of log-engaging heads, binding-cablesinterposed between the heads, cables connecting the heads and secured to the binding-cables, a bow-plate, a stern-plate, said plates adapted to bear against opposite ends of a log, and means operated by the movement of one of the plates for pulling the heads toward each other.

3. The herein-described raft-gear consisting of ring-like heads, cables connecting the heads, binding-cables secured to the firstmentioned cables, pulleys connected to said cables near one end of the gear, a bow-plate, and cables secured at one end to the bowplate and at their other end to the raft-gear adjacent the plate, said cables extending over the pulleys.

4. A raft comprising a central core, layers of timber arranged around the core, ring-like heads upon the core, flexible connections therebetween, means for binding the layers upon the core, plates upon the ends of the core, pulleys connected to the raft adjacent one end, cables secured to one of the plates and to the ends of the raft adjacent thereto, said cables extending over the pulleys, and flexible connections between the other plate and the raft.

' 5. The combination with a raft comprising a core, and concentric series of timber therearound; of gear comprising binding devices, heads engaging the core, flexible connections between the heads and secured to the binding devices, plates bearing on the ends of the core, flexible connections between said plates and the adjoining ends of the raft-gear, said connections extending through the heads, and pulleys secured to the binding means adjacent one end of the gear, the connections of one of the gears being looped over the pulleys.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN SHEPARD SIAULDING.

Witnesses:

W. F. HUNTIS, J. A. TODD. 

